I just bought a set of wheels w/King hubs and have a couple of questions.

First, the rear wheel seems to have a bit of play. Not a ton (1-2mm), but it's there. This would lead me to believe there might be a bearing issue. Is this normal? If not, what's up?

Secondly, I had a very tough time dropping the rear wheel into the dropout. It DID fit, and I've ridden it, so I know it works. I'm wondering, though, if the wheel somehow could have come with a 135mm shell instead of a 130mm? Would it still work? Or am I just being a bit paranoid?

Any help would be apppreciated. Thanks.

I just bought a set of wheels w/King hubs and have a couple of questions.

First, the rear wheel seems to have a bit of play. Not a ton (1-2mm), but it's there. This would lead me to believe there might be a bearing issue. Is this normal? If not, what's up?

Secondly, I had a very tough time dropping the rear wheel into the dropout. It DID fit, and I've ridden it, so I know it works. I'm wondering, though, if the wheel somehow could have come with a 135mm shell instead of a 130mm? Would it still work? Or am I just being a bit paranoid?

Any help would be apppreciated. Thanks.

Are the hubs new? If so, it's very common to have to readjust them frequently when they're new. 1-2mm is a lot of play. Hopefully you got a hub manual with the wheels.
The easiest way to find out the width is to measure, but if they were 135, you'd have to REALLY spread the rear triangle to cram it in there. And if you have an AL bike, it would be damn near impossible.

1 - http://www.chrisking.com/tech/tech_movies/hub_r_fin_assy.mov

2 - Measure it.

OK, good, I think I'm just a bit paranoid. I DO have an aluminum frame, and it does not flex in the slightest at the rear dropout, so it seems very unlikely that this could be a 135mm.

As far as measuring, to be honest, I'm not exactly sure from where to where to measure. I compared it with a Mavic hub, though, and the measurements seems comprable.

And with the play, maybe it just needs to be adjusted. I'm guess-timating 1-2mm; it just moves a bit back and forth. Thanks.

Are the hubs new? If so, it's very common to have to readjust them frequently when they're new. 1-2mm is a lot of play. Hopefully you got a hub manual with the wheels.


The easiest way to find out the width is to measure, but if they were 135, you'd have to REALLY spread the rear triangle to cram it in there. And if you have an AL bike, it would be damn near impossible.

hubs, particularly rear hubs. Very normal after initial adjustment/use, right in the instructions (download 'em and use 'em). Once you're used to it, it's easy to maintain.

CK's website should have all you need.

If you want to measure, measure from the faces that contact your dropouts on the axle ends, it's not the shell width.

Sounds as if you just need to make a normal adjustment. As others have pointed out, download the adjustment and maintenance instructions. Chris King recommends cleaning, lubricating, and adjusting these hubs once a year. You can buy the special grease directly from Chris King.
~Al